"Sarah is a delightful, bright student who conducts herself with great maturity inside and outside the classroom. She made the academic all-conference team for volleyball and been an annual recipient of the Presidential Scholarship at Augustana College. After graduation, Sarah will attend graduate school in speech-language pathology"

Sarah Williams

Post-grad plans: Attend graduate school to obtain a master’s in speech-language pathology

Why did you choose to attend Augustana? I chose to attend Augustana because of the beautiful campus and the relationships with faculty.

Are you where you thought you’d be four years ago? When I arrived at Augustana, I had no idea which major I would choose. With the help of the Center for Vocational Reflection, I was able to determine what I was passionate about. By the end of my freshman year, I was certain that CSD was the major for me!

Who helped you get to where you are now? I am thankful for the constant support I have received from my friends, family and teammates. My professors and clinical supervisors have motivated me to constantly try my hardest within the classroom and clinic. I have been fortunate enough to form personal relationships with the faculty members in my department, which I believe is a quality unique to Augustana.

A peak experience?One of the greatest experiences I have had here at Augustana was joining a sorority. Another memorable experience was my senior volleyball season during which we reached our team goal of 20 wins. I have created lasting memories with the girls that I have been lucky enough to call my ‘teammates.’

How did you use your Augie Choice? I will be using my Augie Choice to travel to Rome for 11 days this summer as part of the Christian Traditions course.

What did you learn about yourself in these past four years that surprised you? I learned that I can accomplish even more than I thought possible. Being involved in several groups on campus helped me develop time management and leadership skills, which will be useful in graduate school and my future profession.

What will you miss the most? I will miss the relationships that I have with my professors. I love that most of the professors keep their office doors open, and they are willing to let students stop by their offices to ask questions or just to chat.

Advice for the Class of 2017? Take advantage of everything that Augustana has to offer. Join multiple groups on campus, study abroad and make the time to form lasting relationships. The four years will fly by!